Cleanup continues at Conroy Pit following May 21 storm
The clean-up continues three weeks after a devastating storm tore through Ottawa. The extent of that destruction is still being discovered in the city's south end at Conroy Pit, near Hunt Club Road.
The area is part of the largest forest in the Greenbelt and hosts a number of nature trails as well as a popular dog park.
Homes that back onto the escarpment are also severely damaged.
"It’s going to take three, four, five or six months before we can get back into the house," said Lyndon Smith, whose home was damaged.
Smith’s Blossom Park neighbourhood home had a roof ripped off. He found pieces of it down the street and in the forest.
"We got no power and we have a bedroom ceiling that’s got to come down," said Smith.
Debris is still scattered, hydro wires down, shingles are on the street, and trees are cut up.
Maurice Forgues has been cleaning up his yard every day for weeks.
"I’ve been out here since 6:30 a.m. cutting up branches," said Forgues.
The properties are adjacent to the Pine Grove sector, a large forest south of the city.
It is where you’ll find the Conroy Pit, which has trails and a popular dog park. The NCC closed off the entire area because of the storm devastation.
"Thousands of trees down because the storm had a pretty extensive impact," said Marc-Antoine Poitras of the National Capital Commission.
There’s so much to survey that staff haven’t been able to safely check out all of the destruction.
"I cried," said Celine Caron, "You could see the canopy, the landscape, like the trees that’s lots of fallen trees."
It’s not clear when the area will reopen or the cost to repair with many risks to consider.
"Assessing the threat of fire and fuel for fire after so many trees falling," said Poitras.
The NCC has reopened other conservation areas, including part of the Bruce Pit.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.